Halestorm Pay Homage to Guns N’ Roses, Skid Row With Covers EP

Halestorm have built a name for themselves not just by delivering catchy, powerful, arena-ready rock 'n' roll, but also for their relentless touring schedule. Since 2006, siblings Lzzy and Arejay Hale (lead singer and drummer, respectively), along with guitarist Joe Hottinger and bassist Josh Smith, have performed upwards 250 shows a year. They've been on the road with everyone from Buckcherry, Papa Roach and Three Days Grace to Megadeth and Heaven & Hell, among others.

Last year saw Halestorm win a slew of new fans across the U.S. as they toured along with Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, Stone Sour, Hellyeah and several other bands as part of the first annual Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival. Then it was off to Japan, Europe and a host of other foreign-soil gigs before landing back home this winter to -- what else? -- prepare for the next tour.

Noisecreep caught up in person with Halestorm at the 2011 NAMM convention, where Lzzy Hale talked about something the band is readying for release. "It's an EP of special cover songs that we wanted to record, something unorthodox for the fans, to say thanks for everything and to hold everyone over until the next album is done."

Guitarist Joe Hottinger explained that since the new album is probably a year away, the covers will serve as a "bridge" and also give fans a sense of where the band comes from, musically.

"It's a chance for us to show off our influences through several decades," Lzzy added. "We covered songs by the Beatles, Temple of the Dog, Guns N' Roses, Skid Row, Heart. See, when we were starting out, we'd always mix in some favorite covers with our originals as a way of getting people interested.

"They'd be so impressed with how we'd cover the classics, that then they'd be more willing to listen to our original stuff. Today we still like to go back and revisit the music we grew up listening to. There's nothing like performing a well-crafted rock song, and these are some of the best ever."

As for their now-legendary touring schedule, Joe told Noisecreep, "Starting in March we'll be part of the Avalanche tour across America with Stone Sour. We've played with them a lot, and they're really good guys to tour with. We're lucky, as we always seem to tour with great bands."

Lzzy agreed. "We've been accepted by the bands we tour with, which makes us feel great. I mean, on tour with Disturbed, I'd be sitting there at the catering table having this amazing conversation with David Draiman. Afterward, thinking about it -- experiences like this, it just blows your mind."